Description

Harry L. Hopkins: Typed Letter Signed as Chairman of the
President's Soviet Protocol Committee, Regarding the Soviet Request
For Additional Vessels in the Caspian Sea.
-April 15, 1943. Washington, D.C. One page, 7.25" x 8.5". The
President's Soviet Protocol Committee letterhead.
-To: Major General A.I. Belyaev, Washington, D.C.
-Folds, sheet appears to have been cut down from its original size
with paper missing along left and bottom sides, else fine.

This letter, stamped "SECRET" in red at the top of the page, was
sent by FDR's close adviser Harry L. Hopkins to General Belyaev of
the Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the
U.S.A., located in Washington, D.C. Hopkins writes, full: "My dear
General Belyaev: The need of the Soviet Union for additional
vessels for the Caspian Sea and for Far Eastern Waters, as stated
in your letter of January 22nd, is fully appreciated. The problems
involved in supplying these vessels have been given very thorough
consideration by various government agencies for the past several
months. In view of fabricating difficulties and deficiencies in
ocean shipping, it now seems advisable to coordinate your request
for vessels with the requirements set up by your government for the
Third Protocol. It appears from your letter that the supply of
these vessels for Far Eastern Waters and the Caspian Sea may have
such high priority in your program that you may perhaps prefer to
have them instead of some other items. To enable this government to
consider these requests in relation to your other requirements, it
is suggested that you incorporate them in your over-all statement
which was submitted on April 1, 1943. Sincerely yours, Harry L.
Hopkins, Chairman." In addition to the "SECRET" rubber stamp,
the letter also contains writing in red ink in what appears to be
Russian; several of the words are cut off, and it appears that at
least half an inch has been trimmed from the left side of the page
and at least as much along the bottom edge. As Chairman of the
President's Soviet Protocol Committee, Hopkins determined supply
quotas to be dispatched to allied forces, including the Soviets. A
historic letter containing significant World War II and Lend-Lease
content.

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